Title: Songs of My Life

Author: Bill Manhire

In: Sport 11: Spring 1993

Publication details: Fergus Barrowman, November 1993, Wellington

Part of: Sport

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Sport 11: Spring 1993

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I should add that Pingao has always had these things he says, sayings, which never fail to annoy me—e.g. he will say ‘Crikey’, which is a perfectly good word from time to time, but coming too often it can rile or infuriate.

He will also say ‘Tell me about it’, when you know he isn’t really interested. When I told him for the first time about Lenin’s brain, he automatically said, ‘Tell me about it,’ though as I say he was exceedingly keen to write the subsequent song. Ten minutes it took him. Likewise when I first used the word ‘sputnik’. Tell me about it. ‘Gestalt’ I remember in that way, too.

In a recent development, he will also refer to me as ‘someone’, an exceedingly annoying habit. I might be half falling asleep, this could be in front of the television news, and he will say to Maria, ‘Someone’s falling asleep.’ Then I flash him a glance and perhaps he will say, ‘Someone’s angry,’ and snigger.

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